Development of UV monomer-contained dye inks for high-quality printing application on polyester fabrics without pretreatment

Abstract

The use of direct inkjet printing in the textile industry is an environmentally friendly option. However, the need for pretreatment of most fabrics before digital printing has been a major issue. In this study, a green and straightforward approach was developed that enhances printing accuracy without requiring any pretreatment. A novel waterborne disperse dye-based inkjet ink containing polyethylene glycol diacrylate (PEGDA) was developed that significantly improved the rheology of ink drops on the surface, resulting in superior printing quality on polyester fabric. The printing mechanism of the inks was thoroughly investigated by evaluating their conductivity, pH, particle size, surface tension, viscosity, and ink droplet formation. Real-time photo-rheological and low field nuclear magnetic resonance (LF-NMR) analyses were performed to investigate the behavior of the ink drops on the polyester fabric surface. Finally, the Kawabata evaluation system (KES) was employed to understand the impact of direct digital printing on fabric performance.